patrick_y[PuristSPro Moderator]
33589
Fan-boyism...??
Quoting you:
"Bottom line Patek is delivering to the needs and wants of the customer for the sake of getting and keeping customers for generations. They exist to serve us, not us them. "
Doctor, I'm concerned, especially with the last sentence in your post. It seems to you that Patek Philippe can almost do no wrong.
There's a condition called "Fan-boyism" and you exhibit the symptoms.
Symptom: When you've spent and invested a lot of time and money into a specific product and you will praise it to no end as long as it performs to a modicum of success.
Condition: The condition isn't severe, but it doesn't help open your eyes, rather it tunnels your vision. I challenge you to find faults with the Aquanaut (besides the ease of scratching that you've already mentioned). You've opened the case back and examined the movement and exclaimed at its beauty. But you haven't opened the case back of other watches.
Don't get me wrong, I love Patek Philippe watches. They're my overall favorite brand. However, I understand the limitations of the brand. They have never made a production Grand Sonnerie wristwatch. Among the three Haute De Gamme brands of high horology (Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet, and Vacheron Constantin) they are the youngest to rise to fame. In the past, many Patek Philippe watches were made in three different quality grades to appeal to a broader price-range of consumers.
Not criticizing you, just don't want you to ride into something with blinders on.